Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics
Cruising Aircraft and Balanced Forces

Grade Level: 7-8

National Science Standards:

• Scientific Inquiry:
  • Understanding about scientific inquiry.
• Physical Science:
  • Motions and Forces.
• Science and Technology:
  • Understandings about science and technology.
  • Abilities of technological design.

National Technology Standards:

• Technology productivity tools: Use content specific tools, software, and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research; apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum.
• Technology communications tools: Collaborate with peers, experts, and others using telecommunications and collaborative tools to investigate curriculum-related problems, issues, and information, and to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside classroom.
• Technology research tools: Use content-specific tools, software and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research; select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems.
• Technology problem-solving and decision making tools: Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum.

Objective:

After reading an explanation from a NASA Web-based textbook, you will demonstrate an understanding of the text by applying it to questions involving cruising aircraft and balanced forces.

Beginner's Guide to Aerodynamics is a "textbook" of information prepared at NASA Glenn Research Center to help you better understand aerodynamics. Click Beginner's Guide Index to access the list of slides. Open the slides called Airplane Cruise-Balanced Forces, Forces on an Airplane, and Aircraft Motion-Unbalanced Forces (with text). Read the explanations on the four forces on an airplane and what happens when the forces are balanced or unbalanced. Then using the information found in these slides, complete the Cruising Aircraft Activity designed to demonstrate your understanding of the concepts and forces.

You, or you and your partner(s), will be evaluated on the feasibility of your answers.

Evaluation:

You will demonstrate the ability to use information found on the World Wide Web and complete questions which demonstrate an understanding of forces as they relate to aircraft.

Submitted by:

Tonya Dyke, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio